NORTHERN From the Alps to the Adriatic April 10–24, 2019

15 days from $5,174 total price from New York ($4,695 air and land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

With MIT Professor Alvin Kibel Limited to 24 MIT travelers Northern Italy From the Alps to the Adriatic 15 days from $5,174 total price from New York ($4,695 air and land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees) his leisurely exploration of Italy’s varied northern regions, from the Lake T District and Cinque Terre to Tuscany, the Dolomites, and Venice, offers a refreshing perspective on a well-known land. In the company of a congenial small group, celebrate the Italian penchant for hospitality, good food, and good living.

Day 1, April 10: Depart U.S. for Milan, Italy Bolzano

Stresa Day 2, April 11: Arrive Milan/ After arriving Milan Venice in Milan, travel to the international resort of Stresa on lovely , straddling the border between Italy and . This afternoon is at Santa Margherita leisure before tonight’s welcome dinner. D Adriatic Sea Florence Mediterranean Sea Day 3, April 12: Stresa/Orta San Giulio This morning visit the lovely lakeside town of Orta San Map Legend Giulio–dubbed “God’s watercolor” by Italian writer Destination Piero Chiara–with its cobblestoned streets, 16th- Motorcoach Entry/Departure century town hall, and medieval houses flanking the inviting town square. After lunch on your own here, Avg. High (°F) Apr May return to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at Stresa 62 71 leisure. B Florence 64 73 Venice 62 70 Day 4, April 13: Stresa Embark this morning on a cruise to Isola Bella, the beautiful Borromean island in the middle of Lake Maggiore. Fully occupied by 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo and its extravagantly landscaped gardens, the island offers lovely views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Take a guided tour of the palazzo, with its priceless works of fine art, and stroll through the flower-decked gardens then Small Group Tour Highlights enjoy lunch on the nearby . B,L

Relaxing three-night stay on Lake Maggiore • Lake Day 5, April 14: Stresa/Barolo/Santa Margherita region touring, including medieval Orta San Giulio and Leave the region today, bound for Santa Stresa • Cruise to Isola Bella, with palace and gardens tour • Full-day Cinque Terre excursion featuring Ver- Margherita and the Cinque Terre. En route, stop in nazza • Visit to medieval Lucca • Beautiful Florence • the village of Barolo for lunch and to sample Barolo, Winery visit and tasting • Majestic Dolomites • Venice the “king of wines,” at Marchesi di Barolo, Italy’s sightseeing • Outstanding small group accommodations premier vintner of its greatest wine. Continue on to the Italian Riviera resort town of Santa Margherita, Day Itinerary Hotel Rating with its palm-lined esplanade overlooking the harbor. 1 Depart U.S. for Milan Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel. B,L,D 2-4 Stresa La Palma Hotel First Class 5-7 Santa Margherita Hotel Metropole First Class Day 6, April 15: Santa Margherita/Portofino This Hotel Rivoli morning travel by boat to the renowned–and beauti- 8-10 Florence First Class Boutique ful–resort town of Portofino, a former fishing village Hotel Scala 11-12 Bolzano First Class where palatial yachts now crowd the port and the good Stiegl life is celebrated. Enjoy free time to wander the colorful Palazzo Sup. First 13-14 Venice Veneziano Class streets and visit the chic boutiques and galleries here 15 Depart Venice for U.S. before returning to the hotel mid-day. B Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Day 7, April 16: Santa Margherita/Portovenere/ Cinque Terre Depart this morning by train for the Cover photo: The rugged and scenic Cinque Terre region has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. The Baptistery (l) and Duomo (r) rise above Florence’s rooftops. hour-long trip to the Cinque Terre (literally, “Five Day 10, April 19: Florence/Siena Visit the walled Lands”), the five cliff-clinging villages seemingly carved city of Siena, whose historic center is a UNESCO site from the mountains. Originally medieval fishing villages, and whose ochrecolored buildings and ancient ramparts the Cinque Terre were inaccessible by land for centuries; vividly evoke its medieval past. Fan-shaped Piazza del even today, no road connects all five. Stop in scenic Campo is one of Europe’s greatest public squares; its Vernazza then board a boat for a comfortable cruise Duomo, with pillars of black and white marble, is one of along the rugged coastline to visit another village of the Italy’s finest, with masterpieces by Donatello and Michel- Cinque Terre. From here, cruise to the port town of angelo. Following a guided walking tour that includes an Portovenere, with its cluster of colorful column-shaped inside visit to the Duomo, enjoy free time to explore on houses. After a brief walking tour of the Old Town, you have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own. your own. Return to Florence mid-afternoon, with Tonight, dine at the hotel. B,D the remainder of the day at leisure. B

Day 8, April 17: Santa Margherita/Lucca/Florence Day 11, April 20: Florence/Verona/Bolzano As you travel north today, stop in storied Verona, renowned Moving on today, travel south to Tuscany, stopping as the setting of several Shakespeare plays, including, first in the atmospheric medieval town of Lucca. Take of course, “Romeo and Juliet.” A UNESCO site, a walking tour of this incredibly well-preserved gem, whose city walls and ramparts remain intact and a popular attraction. After time for lunch on your own, continue on Post-Tour Extension to your lodging in the heart of Florence. B,D April 24–26, 2019 Day 9, April 18: Florence Spend today touring and exploring wondrous Florence, a living monument to Venice– the Renaissance and crown jewel of Tuscany. The day On Your Own begins with a guided morning walking tour followed 3 days/2 nights for by free time. Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to view $435 total price Michelangelo’s sublime “David” and his pieces for Single Supplement: $325 the papal tombs; and the Duomo, with its stupendous End your journey with a longer stay dome by Brunelleschi. Then you’re free to stroll the in this most beautiful of cities. 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, with its many jewelry shops; visit renowned museums and churches; shop for leather goods and artful Florentine paper; and Tour Price Includes to enjoy lunch and dinner on your own at a typical • 2 nights’ accommodations at Palazzo Veneziano Florentine restaurant. B (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport “Venice is eternity itself.” MIT Faculty Lecturer Our lecture series will be led by Professor Alvin – Joseph Brodsky Kibel, of MIT’s Literature Faculty. Having taught at Wesleyan University and at the University of Verona boasts well-preserved monuments from Reading, England, Alvin Kibel joined the Literature antiquity, including a 1st-century Roman amphithe- Faculty at MIT in 1967 and served for several years ater still in use today, as you will see on a guided as its Chair. His work has appeared in numerous walking tour. After time for lunch and to explore on journals, including The American Scholar, Partisan your own here, continue your journey to the South Review, Daedalus, and The New Republic, among Tyrol, Italy’s German-accented northern reaches others. Long ago, he introduced the study of bordering Austria and Switzerland. You’re bound for film as a subject in the Literature curriculum and the regional capital of Bolzano, gateway to the Do- initiated others as well, mostly at the intersection lomites in the Italian Alps. Late afternoon you reach of literary studies and the history of ideas—for the hotel, where you dine tonight. B,D example, a course in Darwinism and the history of Darwinian thought. For several years, he also Day 12, April 21: Bolzano Set in a basin surrounded taught a subject on Leadership Ethics in the Sloan by rounded forest-green hills, Bolzano boasts an School of Business Management. enviable quality of life–and truly spectacular scenery. Take a cable car to a spot for views of the 18-peak Dolomites, their vertical walls and sheer cliffs pre- senting a magnificent backdrop to the surrounding woodlands, valleys, and pastures. Then walk through Bolzano’s colorful historic center and visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, well known for hous- Tour Departs the U.S.: ing the mummified corpse of Ötzi the Iceman, dating April 10, 2019 to 3300 bce. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this Prices include int’l airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees. surprisingly cosmopolitan city as you wish; tonight New York $5,174 you dine at a local restaurant. B,D Boston, Philadelphia $5,374 Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Day 13, April 22: Bolzano/Venice En route to Cincinnati, Cleveland, $5,474 Venice today, travel through the Dolomites themselves, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, enjoying jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. When Tampa, Washington, DC you reach Venice late this afternoon, you’re free to Dallas, Denver, Houston, begin savoring this wondrous city as you wish and Los Angeles, Minneapolis, $5,574 enjoy dinner on your own. B,L Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle Day 14, April 23: Venice This morning, take a guided Land Only (transfers not included) $4,495 walk through vast St. Mark’s Square. The afternoon Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person is free for independent exploration; tonight you bid based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $479, which are subject to “arrivederci” to Italy and to your fellow travelers at a change until final payment is made. farewell dinner. B,D Single travelers please add $1,395. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are Day 15, April 24: Depart for U.S. Depart early guaranteed. this morning for your connecting flight to the U.S. B Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class–$3,995 per person; Premium Economy–$995 per person (upgrades are subject to availability and pric- ing is subject to change). Upgrade costs are in addition to the costs above. Please see Air Transportation section of the General Terms and Conditions for more details Tour Price Includes on flight restrictions. Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets. • 13 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class Trip participants should be in good physical condition and First Class hotels to enjoy the tour to its fullest. • 23 meals: 13 breakfasts; 3 lunches; 7 dinners For reservations and information, please • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all contact the MIT Alumni Travel Program at entrance fees 800-992-6749, • Services of a tour director or e-mail [email protected], • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your or call Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. toll-free at trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person 888-370-6765 • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM, Eastern Time airport and hotel porters, and all drivers Dear MIT Alumni and Friends, Join fellow MIT travelers on a 15-day journey through Northern Italy. From the rustic Lake District and Tuscan countryside to the magnificent Dolomites and the vibrant cities of Milan, Florence, and Venice, this small group will experience the best of Italian hospitality. Begin in Stresa with a three-night stay on lovely Lake Maggiore. Cruise to the Borromean island of Isola Bella, experiencing its beautiful landscaped gardens and its palazzo, showcasing priceless works of fine art. Continue on to Italy’s beautiful Liguria region and the Italian Riviera resort town of Santa Margherita. Travel by boat to the renowned port of Portofino and enjoy a full-day Cinque Terre excursion featuring Vernazza. Tour Tuscany, from Lucca through Florence and Siena. Stop in storied Verona en route to the South Tyrol and Bolzano, gateway to the Dolomites. Conclude in Venice, with its complex maze of canals and unforgettable St. Mark’s Square. You have the opportunity to extend your stay with a 3-day/2-night post-tour extension. Providing educational enrichment during this trip is MIT Professor of Literature Alvin Kibel. Professor Kibel’s talks cover Dante’s Divine Comedy, Machiavelli’s brief treatise, The Prince, and the invention of perspective in painting, by Filippo Brunelleschi. Space on this tour is limited to 24 participants, so register today. If you have questions, or wish to make a reservation, call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also contact the tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., at 888-370-6765. Sincerely,

Visit our website at alum.mit.edu/travel for Melissa Chapman Gresh details and updates on all our programs. Find us on Facebook at MIT Alumni Travel Program. Director, MIT Alumni Travel Program

MIT RESERVATION FORM: NORTHERN ITALY Enclosed is my/our deposit for $______($500 per person) for ____ person(s) on Northern Italy, departing April 10, 2019. I/We understand the final payment is due at least 95 days prior to departure. Deposit and final payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA, or by personal check. Please make checks payable to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., and send, with completed reservation form, to: MIT Alumni Travel Program, 600 Memorial Drive, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, or call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749. Or contact the tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., at 888-370-6765. Full Passport Name ______Date of Birth ______Gender ______Badge Name ______MIT Affiliation ______Full Passport Name ______Date of Birth ______Gender ______Badge Name ______MIT Affiliation ______Address ______City ______State ______ZIP ______Home Phone (______) ______Cell Phone (______)______E-mail(s) ______Please book my/our air from ______I/We request an air upgrade to ______I will share a room with ______I request a single room (limited availability) q Post-Tour “Venice – On Your Own” Extension: Please sign me/us up q Please Note: The undersigned has read the schedule of activities for Northern Italy, April 10–24, 2019, and agrees that their signature below represents their acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions:

Signature(s) ______Date______

Method of Payment q Check q American Express q Discover q MasterCard q VISA Account # ______Security Code ______Exp. Date ______Name of Cardholder ______Signature ______

Final invoicing will be sent by the tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. The balance of the program price must be paid to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. Final payment is due by January 5, 2019, and is payable by check or credit card. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS Presorted Please read this information carefully, as payment of a $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Standard Terms and Conditions. MIT Alumni Travel Program U.S. POSTAGE Not Included in Tour Price 600 Memorial Drive, 2nd Floor PAID Airfare when purchasing a Land Only package; costs of passports and visas, if required; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, Cambridge, MA 02139 Odysseys room service, and meals not specified; airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; communication charges; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited tour director, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10–$15 per traveler, per day); optional sight- Unlimited, Inc. seeing; and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure. Cancellations, Refunds, and Changes If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.’s receipt of your written notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 94–65 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 64–45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 44–30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29–0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reserva- tion from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy, for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure. Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue. Responsibility The liability of MIT and the MIT Alumni Association (hereafter referred to as MIT), as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under their control. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. serves only as agent for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and MIT will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. MIT and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within their control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. Every effort will be made to operate this tour as planned, but Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. reserves the right to make itinerary changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require a change of hotel, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality. Health and Medical Issues We request that you be in good health to participate in this tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches and boats on your own. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.’s tour itineraries, for reasons beyond their control, do not accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. to inquire and they will do their best to answer any questions you may have. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. reserves the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in their opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, MIT and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour. Air Transportation–Important Information Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities as shown, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule NORTHERN ITALY approximately 2½ months prior to departure. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at air- port check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and air- April 10–24, 2019 line taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only pricing is available on this tour. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your With MIT Professor Alvin Kibel own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and MIT and the MIT Alumni Association shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour.

The MIT Alumni Travel Program provides further information about the Alumni Travel Program and the relationship between the Alumni Association and the tour operator online at About MIT Alumni Travel: http://alum.mit.edu/travel/about.